Aspect Ratio problem with 4:3 video (2 Viewers)

[schalicto]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version:
MediaPortal Skin:
Windows Version: XP Fully Patched
CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz
HDD: Western Digital Caviar RE WD1600YD 160GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150
Memory: CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Motherboard: MSI P965 Neo-F Core 2
Motherboard Chipset: Intel P965 Chipset
Motherboard Bios:
Video Card: MSI NX7600GT-VT2D256EHD GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card:
Sound Card AC3: Optical Out
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: None Yet
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Comcast
HTPC Case: SILVERSTONE LC20-S Silver
Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS7000B-ALCU
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12-330 ATX12V 330W
Remote: None Yet
TV: Panasonic CRT HDTV 16:9 CT-34WX54J
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI to HDMI from the computer into the TV


Alright, I've done some searching and I've looked for help in the chat room and now I am going to post a thread (because that's what I'm supposed to do, right?). I have a 16:9 hdtv and I've just installed mediaportal on my htpc because it looks like a rocking piece of software. However I noticed that when I try and play video that is supposed to be 4:3 it gets stretched across the screen (example http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1195/1243623008_07d3588c0f_o.jpg) and it gets a little bit of letterboxing on the top and the bottom (see picture).

I should also mention that the resolution I am running on my htpc is 1768x982 which is a 16:9 resolution. When I mentioned this fact on the IRC I was told that I should get the Nvidia Purevideo Decoder, so begrudgingly I did. I installed the purevideo decoder but it doesn't show up with the other codecs (example http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/1243623644_4d05215ccd_o.jpg) and the only decoders listed are MPV Decoder, Nvidia Video Decoder, Dscaler MPEG2 video decoder, Sonic Cinemaster DS Video Decoder, Mainconcept (Adobe2) MPEG Video Decoder, Cyberlink MPEG Muxor, and Mainconcept (Adobe2) MPEG Multiplexor.

The Nvidia Purevideo Decoder does show up on the config under decoder files, but suffice it to say it has not fixed the problem.

So I was told to post my computer specs and the issue a long with the mediaportal logs. So here I am.

I should also mention that mediaplayer appears to play video files formated for 16:9 and DVDs formated for 16:9 just perfectly.

If you need something else from me please let me know, I am dying to get this figured out and have a working HTPC front end.

-Josh

 

[whatisk]

Have you gone into setup within MediPortal and gone through the screen calibration process?
When I upgraded from 0.2.2.0 stable to RC1, I had the same issue with 4:3 video.

It took me a while to figure it out, but once I went into the screen calibration and did the last thing there (it cycles through other settings first) where you have a box on the screen and need to get it square. Judging by your screen res, you need to get the box to about 1.8.

Once I did that part and made the box a square, 4:3 video played fine and not stretched.

 

[schalicto]

Thanks for the suggestion whatisk. I just tried that and put the square at 1.0. It didn't fix my problem at all, but what it did do was get rid of the slight letterboxing referenced in this screenshot http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1195/1243623008_07d3588c0f_o.jpg .

But alas the video is still stretched.

 

[whatisk]

Thanks for the suggestion whatisk. I just tried that and put the square at 1.0. It didn't fix my problem at all, but what it did do was get rid of the slight letterboxing referenced in this screenshot http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1195/1243623008_07d3588c0f_o.jpg .

But alas the video is still stretched.

I don't think the square should be set at 1.0.
The screen I use MP on runs at a res of 800x600, so I set the square to 1.33 and it's fine (800/600=1.33).
Because of the screen res you are running, I think you would need to set it to 1.8 (1768/982)

Or you can hold a ruler to the screen and keep playing until the sides are the same length

 

[schalicto]

Well, I don't know much about math or what should work, but I got out a ruler this time and did the measurements. I did adjust the resolution some in the mediaportal screen calibration process to compensate further for overscan, but here is where I ended up.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1393/1243618441_7a585647a0_b.jpg

 

[whatisk]

Well, I don't know much about math or what should work, but I got out a ruler this time and did the measurements. I did adjust the resolution some in the mediaportal screen calibration process to compensate further for overscan, but here is where I ended up.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1393/1243618441_7a585647a0_b.jpg

It may not work totally the way I thought With mine, it just happens to be 1.33, but I have no overscan to compensate for.

If you have overscan, you may need to adjust the position of the top-left and bottom-right of the screen which is done in the first couple of steps. Once you've made any adjustments there and then have made the square a square, 4:3 should display fine.

 

[schalicto]

I've already done that overscan compensation thing.

 

[whatisk]

Sorry, you did mention that.

Once you have made the square a square, do 4:3 videos then show correctly? I'm not sure if you first need to close and restart MP first.

 

[schalicto]

No, the videos do not show correctly, however they do take up the screen without any underscan or overscan, but 4:3 video is still stretched.

 

[whatisk]

Hmm, I'm pretty much out of ideas then unfortunately as that has fixed it for me in the past.

You wouldn't be using Stretch as the zoom mode by any chance?